Indians DH Encarnacion (biceps) undergo MRI exam

Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion underwent an MRI exam on his left biceps on Saturday and could be headed to the disabled list.

Encarnacion departed Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox due to pain in the biceps while swinging the bat. The team sent him back to Cleveland to be examined by hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham.

“There are a couple of things that could happen,” Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters prior to Saturday’s game against the White Sox. “He could turn right around and come back and we play short a couple of days.

“Or if Dr. Graham thinks a rest will help him, then we could DL him. That’s kind of where we are at.”

Encarnacion is batting .229 with 25 homers and 81 RBIs for Cleveland. He also has been nursing a bone bruise in his right hand over the past few weeks.

“When I was talking to Edwin last night, he really takes it to heart — his responsibility,” Francona said. “He doesn’t like to come out of the lineup. So when I was talking to him down in the tunnel, he kept saying, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ I told him I just want to do what’s right for you.

“The one thing he said is, ‘please, don’t just put me on the DL.’ So out of respect to him, we want to see how he’s doing. A 10-day (DL) might be the best thing for him. I don’t know that. That’s why we’re letting Graham look at him. Then we’ll go off of that.”